Dynamically-tunable interventions for user transactions

Abstract

The present disclosure provides techniques to selectively provide user interventions. A transaction is initiated for a user device, and data describing a user of the user device during the transaction is collected. A preferred level of intervention for the transaction is determined based on the collected data. Interventions are selectively provided to the user device during the transaction based on the preferred level of intervention.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 initiating a transaction for a user device; 
 prior to beginning a checkout process to complete the transaction:
 determining, by an intervention component having one or more computer processors and a memory, a default level of intervention for the transaction, wherein the default level of intervention comprises at least a first default intervention; 
 receiving, by the intervention component from one or more cameras arranged in a physical environment, user data during the transaction, wherein the user data comprises one or more images or videos that capture body movements associated with at least one user in the physical environment; and 
 determining, by the intervention component based on the user data, a preferred level of intervention for the transaction based at least in part on the body movements of the at least one user, wherein the preferred level of intervention is different from the default level of intervention; and 
 
 selectively providing, by the intervention component, interventions to the user device during the transaction based on the preferred level of intervention, wherein providing interventions to the user device comprises withholding the first default intervention during the transaction. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 determining, by the intervention component, the preferred level of intervention comprises evaluating the one or more images or videos to identify actions taken by the at least one user. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the preferred level of intervention comprises:
 determining, by the intervention component based on the user data, an urgency of a user of the user device during the transaction; and 
 determining that the preferred level of intervention is low, based on the determined urgency. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the urgency of the user comprises:
 determining, by the intervention component, a walking speed of the user during the transaction. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 selectively providing, by the intervention component, the interventions to the user device during the transaction occurs prior to beginning the checkout process to complete the transaction. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selectively providing interventions to the user device comprises at least one of:
 providing one or more interventions in order to increase time required to complete the transaction, 
 suggesting one or more alternative items, 
 providing additional information on an item, 
 dispatching an employee to assist the user, 
 providing a survey, or 
 adding one or more menu options during the transaction. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selectively providing interventions to the user device comprises:
 providing, by the intervention component, a first interruption of a first intervention type during the transaction; and 
 refraining, by the intervention component, from providing a second interruption of a second intervention type, based on determining that a user of the user device prefers the first intervention type. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the intervention component, additional user data from the one or more cameras arranged in the physical environment, the additional user data comprises one or more images or videos that capture additional body movements associated with the at least one user in the physical environment; 
 determining, by the intervention component and based on the additional user data, an updated preferred level of intervention for the transaction, wherein the updated preferred level of intervention is lower than the preferred level of intervention; and 
 refraining, by the intervention component, from providing additional interventions to the user device during the transaction based on the updated preferred level of intervention. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selectively providing interventions comprises providing one or more interventions to affect how a user of the user device moves through the physical environment during the transaction. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the intervention component, a number of people with a user of the user device during the transaction based at least in part on the one or more images or videos that capture the body movements associated with the at least one user in the physical environment, and 
 wherein, in selectively providing, by the intervention component, the interventions to the user device during the transaction based on the preferred level of intervention, the interventions are provided to the user device based at least in part on the number of people with the user of the user device during the transaction. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the intervention component, that a user of the user device is suspected of stealing based at least in part on the one or more images or videos that capture the body movements associated with the at least one user in the physical environment, and 
 wherein, in selectively providing, by the intervention component, the interventions to the user device during the transaction based on the preferred level of intervention, the interventions are provided to the user device in an effort to slow the transaction. 
 
     
     
       12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program code that, when executed by operation of one or more computer processors of an intervention component, performs an operation comprising:
 initiating a transaction for a user device; 
 prior to beginning a checkout process to complete the transaction:
 determining a default level of intervention for the transaction, wherein the default level of intervention comprises at least a first default intervention; 
 receiving, from one or more cameras arranged in a physical environment, user data during the transaction, wherein the user data comprises one or more images or videos that capture body movements associated with at least one user in the physical environment; and 
 determining, based on the user data, a preferred level of intervention for the transaction based at least in part on the body movements of the at least one user, wherein the preferred level of intervention is different from the default level of intervention; and 
 
 selectively providing interventions to the user device during the transaction based on the preferred level of intervention, wherein providing interventions to the user device comprises withholding the first default intervention during the transaction. 
 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein:
 determining the preferred level of intervention comprises evaluating the one or more images or videos to identify actions taken by the at least one user. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein determining the preferred level of intervention comprises:
 determining, based on the user data, an urgency of a user of the user device during the transaction; and 
 determining that the preferred level of intervention is low, based on the determined urgency. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein determining the urgency of the user comprises:
 determining a walking speed of the user during the transaction. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein selectively providing interventions to the user device comprises:
 providing a first interruption of a first intervention type during the transaction; and 
 refraining from providing a second interruption of a second intervention type, based on determining that a user of the user device prefers the first intervention type. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , the operation further comprising:
 receiving additional user data from the one or more cameras arranged in the physical environment, the additional user data comprises one or more images or videos that capture additional body movements associated with the at least one user in the physical environment; 
 determining, based on the additional user data, an updated preferred level of intervention for the transaction, wherein the updated preferred level of intervention is lower than the preferred level of intervention; and 
 refraining from providing additional interventions to the user device during the transaction based on the updated preferred level of intervention. 
 
     
     
       18. An intervention component, comprising:
 one or more computer processors; and 
 a memory containing a program which when executed by the one or more computer processors performs an operation, the operation comprising:
 initiating a transaction for a user device; 
 prior to beginning a checkout process to complete the transaction:
 determining a default level of intervention for the transaction, wherein the default level of intervention comprises at least a first default intervention; 
 receiving, from one or more cameras arranged in a physical environment, user data during the transaction, wherein the user data comprises one or more images or videos that capture body movements associated with at least one user in the physical environment; and 
 determining, based on the user data, a preferred level of intervention for the transaction based at least in part on the body movements of the at least one user, wherein the preferred level of intervention is different from the default level of intervention; and 
 
 selectively providing interventions to the user device during the transaction based on the preferred level of intervention, wherein providing interventions to the user device comprises withholding the first default intervention during the transaction. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The intervention component of  claim 18 , wherein:
 determining the preferred level of intervention comprises evaluating the one or more images or videos to identify actions taken by a user of the user device. 
 
     
     
       20. The intervention component of  claim 18 , wherein determining the preferred level of intervention comprises:
 determining, based on the user data, an urgency of a user of the user device during the transaction; and 
 determining that the preferred level of intervention is low, based on the determined urgency.